7 Common Plumbing Mistakes to Avoid at Home

There are a plethora of plumbing mistakes made at home that causes minor to severe plumbing problems. These mistakes include, putting the wrong items down the garbage disposal, leaving hair in shower drain traps, ignoring leaks, and much more. Let’s review seven of the most common plumbing mistakes to avoid at home.

1. Putting the Wrong Items Down A Garbage Disposal

We have grown to believe that garbage disposals are for any kind of food, when they aren’t. Yes, I know it’s hard for you to believe, but sadly, it’s true. According to Best Plumbers, “garbage disposals are for food scraps not whole foods or fibrous food scraps like rice, pasta, vegetable peels, or celery.”

2. Not Removing the Garbage Disposal Plug

You’re probably asking, “What is a garbage disposal plug?” Well, it’s a circular piece of plastic that blocks water from escaping if your disposal is not connected to a dishwasher. If you are replacing a broken disposal, or installing one for the first time, you will want to be aware of this plug. If your disposal will be connected to a dishwasher using the drain hose that comes from the dishwasher, it is necessary to remove this disposal plug so that water from the dishwasher is allowed to flow into the disposal and out the drain. If you don’t remove the plug and run the dishwasher, you could end up with a flood of water in your kitchen.

3. Pouring Grease Down Drains

Now, this can pose a BIG problem! What happens when you pour grease down your drain? “When you pour hot grease down your drain, the grease sticks to the inside of the pipe. Eventually, the pipes and grease will cool causing the grease to stick to the pipe’s surfaces (Best Drainage).” When the grease sticks, the pipes can clog and there’s your BIG problem!

4. Flushing Garbage Down the Toilet

All of a sudden you find yourself yelling, N000 Susan, N0, N0!!! Susan just flushed a toilet paper roll down the toilet…so, we know kids are experts when it comes to flushing garbage or other items that shouldn’t be flushed down the toilet. But, at times we hear about our friends, family, or ourselves flushing items down the toilet such as, cotton balls, facial scrubs, cotton swabs, paper towels and hygiene products (Best Plumber). Let’s remind ourselves and others that toilets are only designed to dispose of human waste, not trash.

5. Improper Disposal of Construction Materials

Construction work within or outside your home can lead to plumbing problems. During construction contractors may damage a pipe or we can refer back to the “garbage down the toilet” scenario where a piece of construction material (nail, etc.) is accidentally flushed down the toilet. Also, putting paint or harsh chemicals down the drains can lead to clogs or the corrosion of the drain pipes. If we are aware of our surroundings, we can prevent a plumbing problem.

6. Ignoring Small Plumbing Leaks

Well, let’s keep it simple – the longer you ignore a leak, the more damage it can cause and the more water you’ll waste. Additionally, a small leak inside a wall can create the perfect environment for mold growth which can be very bad for your health. Instead of procrastinating, it’s best to call a professional plumber. This leads us to our next and final point…

7. Failing to Hire a Professional:

ALWAYS HIRE A PROFESSIONAL! Do your research on the company you choose, make sure they have proper certification, and licences. Also consider their experience, how much they cost, and their response time. Lastly, you should make sure they have the proper insurance, and if it is a large job, a permit may have to be pulled. For a more information see our article “How to Choose a Plumbing Company – Top 6 Tips”.

If you are in need of a Professional Plumber in Mount Dora Florida, Lake County, or the surrounding area, don’t hesitate to call Blue Sky Plumbing where there are NO EXCUSES only solutions!

REFERENCES:
Best Plumbers. (n.d.). Retrieved March 11, 2016, from https://bestplumbers.com/8-common-home-plumbing-mistakes-to-avoid/
The Damaging Effects of Grease on Your Pipes. (n.d.). Retrieved March 11, 2016, from http://bestdrainage.ca/grease_effects.html